Give a nod to the '80s, just don't overdo it

Is Average Josephine the only one who's really happy to see the '80s style return?

In the '80s, Average Josephine was but a skinny teenager who couldn't really take advantage of the forgiving, looser clothes that were in vogue. Today, as a thirtysomething mother of two, lots of fabric just seems like an awesome gift from the fashion industry.

One of Average Josephine's favorite items this season is the scoop-neck shirt with an elastic drop waist. These are the tops that float over the mid-section and cinch at the hip.

If you want to take advantage of the '80s revival in fashion, Average Josephine has several tips:

1. Don't overdo it. You don't want to look like a caricature of Pat Benatar or Justine Bateman circa 1983. Choose one '80s item or pattern. That's it. You can't wear a bun warmer sweater with skinny jeans and granny boots without looking like you are actually wearing your leftover clothes from the '80s.

2. Pulling off horizontal stripes is difficult. Again, you may have been able to wear something that made you look a little wider in the '80s. However, if you don't have the same body you did back then, it may be better to pick a different print.

3. Say no to acid (wash). We all did it 20 years ago. Those jeans that looked like they were scrubbed with Roman Cleanser seemed very fashion-forward. And we'll probably see them return to stores. However, it's best to resist this one. Wearing that much flash on the lower half is not flattering.

4. Say yes to movement. If you want to get the '80s look, you can't wear skin-tight sweaters. That's just not how we did it. Pairing a sweater dress with leggings is very chic. Pairing a tube top with leggings is not.

5. Not everything '80s should make a comeback. Average Josephine advises that you don't trade in your boot-cut jeans for a pair of taper-legged ones. The taper legs just make you look like an ice cream cone.